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No. 6l2,926. Patented Oct. 25, I898.

P. J. HARRIS.

COFFEE CAN.

(Application filed Oct. 20, 1897.)

(No Model.)

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UNrTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PATRICK J. HARRIS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO WILLIAM H.

OBRIEN, OF SAME PLACE.

COFFEE-CAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 612,926, dated. October 25, 1898. Application filed October 20,1897. Serial No. 655,782. (No model.) Patented in Canada October 26, 1897, No. 57,923.

To cal], whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PATRICK J. HARRIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cofiee- Cans, (for which Letters Patent in Canada were granted to me October 26, 1897, No. 57,923,) of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part.

hereof.

My invention has relation to improvements in coffee-cans; and it consists in the novel arrangement and combination of parts more fully set forth in the specification and pointed out in the claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a middle vertical section of the improved can. Fig. 2 is a top plan view with the operating-handle detached. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is an inverted plan View of the movable bottom.

The object of my invention is to construct a coffee-can which is provided with a false bottom or diaphragm capable of vertical adjustment, whereby as the contents of the can are removed the said diaphragm can be elevated, so that the upper surface of the coffee can be maintained at a substantially constant level and be always exposed to the view of the purchaser. At the same time the scooping out of the coffee is facilitated.

In detail the invention may be described as follows:

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents an ordinary and prevailing form of can, the lid 2 thereof being hinged to close to an inclined position, as shown in Fig. 1, the said lid being pivoted along the front edge of an upper horizontal ledge 3, the latter being provided at points adjacent to the lid with the brackets at, against which the lid can rest While in an open position. Forming a part of or carried by the ledge 3 at a point intermediate the brackets dis a tubular boss or collar 5,through which is adapted to pass the upper smooth end of an operating-rod 6, having a screwthreaded portion 7, the base of the rod resting in a suitable bearing 8, carried by the permanent bottom of the can. Formed about the rod 6, at a point intermediate the limits passed through a suitable opening cut in the sheet. The sheet 16 is of sufficient dimensions to loosely contact with the inner surface of the walls of the can, the edges of the sheet being sufficiently close to said surfaces to prevent any berry from falling down upon the permanent bottom.

It is apparent from the foregoing description that as rotation is imparted to the rod 6 by means of the crank-handle 13 the diaphragm 16 may be raised or lowered to any predetermined position, thus keeping the coffee-level constant in full View of the dealer and purchaser, and at a level where from its contact with the surrounding atmosphere it can alwaysremain pure and fresh. The present invention is of course applicable to teacans, sugar-cans, and cans carrying goods of other description. lVhatever be the character or form of the can the diaphragm in any of its-adjusted posit-ions closely hugs the inner surfaces of the Walls thereof, and in cases where the walls of the can are tapering-that is, conical-the diaphragm may be made of expanding and contracting sections adapted to conform themselves in area to the cross section of the can at the plane occupied by such diaphragm.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- In a can, asuitable can proper, a lid adapted to close the upper open end thereof, a horizontal ledge along the edge of which the lid is pivoted, brackets mounted on the ledge adjacent to the lid, a collar carried by the ledge, a bearing at the bottom of the can below the collar, an operating-rod having a smooth and a screw-threaded portion, the smooth portion passing through the collar, a

. tion between the limits of the collar, a retaining-screw carried. by the collar and. operating ried thereby, substantially as set forth. [0

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in said groove, a casting or frame having in presence of two Witnesses. an interiorly-screw-threaded boss embracing the screw-threaded portion of the rod, a diaphragm carried by the frame, and means for rotating the rod, the latter projecting a suit- PATRIOK J. HARRIS. Vitnesses:

EMIL STAREK, ALEX. YOUNG. 

